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No.'ss7,1s1.- Patented Mar. 2, 1886.

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mirenA STATES PATENT Prion.

ROBERT CAMPBELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,131, dated March 2I 1886.

Application filed September 10, 1885. Serial No. 176,662. (No model.)

To all whom/ t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. CAMPBELL, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lasts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

y This invention relates to the construction of the metal thimble and plate which are applied t-o wooden lasts intended to be used with jacks in the manufacture of shoes thereon; and the object of the invention is to provide such a construction as will more perfect-ly prevent the last from splitting. The metals referred to comprise a thimble lct into a holein the cone ofthe last and a strap secured to the last and surrounding the hole which receives the thimble. The thimble is intended lto receive the stud which projects from the upper end of the heel-post of the jack, and which holds the last by being clamped in said thimble by the familiar movement ofthe ball-post of the jack. In this operation of the jack, and under the heavy hammering to which the last is subjected when on the jack, there is atendency to loosen the metals and to split the last, which is only partially remedied by the construction of the metals referred to, as heretofore made and applied.

My improvement consists in connecting these two metals, whereby each is in part supported from the other, and in substituting for the strap a top plate made concave upon its under surface and fitted to a correspondingly-shaped seat upon the last, so that both together better keep in place and serve to moreeffectuallypre vent the last from splitting in use. Two forms of my invention are shown for this purpose, one consisting in an arrangement of the top plate or strap around the outer end of the thimble, and the other in making the strap or plate integral with the thimble.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a last provided with one form of my improvement. Fig. 2 is atransverse vertical section of the last taken centrally through the thimble and plate. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plate and thimble made integral with each other. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the wooden portion of the last bored and vrecessed to proper shape to receive the combined plate and thimble.

is the plate or strap, the latter being let into the cone of the last flush with the wood, and the thimble being driven closely into the hole a, bored in the cone of the last to receive it. Said plate C is inclined downwardly and outwardly on its under surface from the center linc of the last, and the wood of the last is correspondingly shaped, so as to fit the concaved under face of the said plate C.

In the construction shown in Figs. l and 2 the thimble B is extended through the plate C, the hole in the latter being made of size to receive the end of the thimble at a tight fit, so that lateral strain applied to the thimble by the stud on the heel-post of the jack is met, not only by the bearing of the thimble in its wooden socket, but also by its bearing against the plate C. This plate being let into the wood flush with the latter, so` as to bear upon the shoulders c and held byscrews or nails, serves The thimble and plate in Figs. l and 2 are represented as being of wrought-iron, and as being engaged with each other only by the insertion of the upper end of the thimble through the plate; but, if desired, the thimble and plate may be welded or brazed to each other, so as to form a single piece.

In Figs. 3 and 5 the thimble and plate are shown to be made in a single piece, as whenV they are of malleable iron.

The object and effect of the construction above described, wherein the plate C is made concave upon its under surface, is that when IOO the plate is fastened upon the last it will laterally confine the wood, as intended by one old form of strap well known, which not only reaches across the top of the last, as shown in Figs. l and 2, but also reaches down the sides ofthe last. In this old construction,however, the strap, being made of wrought strap-iron, has little effect to actually clamp the last laterally, and the latter therefore easily splits, notwithstanding its presence. In said old construction, moreover, constant hammering serves to loosen and start the laterally-inserted screws of the plate, so that their projecting heads frequently tear the linings of the shoes. The

plate C of Figs. 3 and 5 is made so thick as to have greater strength than this old wroughtiron strap, and by its rigidity and concaved form of its under surface, described, firmly clamps the last with the result, as stated, of preventing the latter from splitting. Vertical screws may be inserted through this plate, as

The combination, with a last, A, having a hole, a, and recess a', the bottom of which recess is downwardly and outwardly inclined laterally from the middle, of a cast thimble and plate, B C, the under surfaces of said plate being downwardly and outwardly inclined to fit the bottom of the recess a', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that lf claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT L. CAMPBELL. Vitnesses:

M. E. DAYTON, GEORGE CooMBs. 

